Falling

Crashes ant 30mph+... It depends on the situation all that Ihave seen it has just been road rash, probably the worst thing is ripped jersies, they are expensive enough. As for the correct way to fall I don't really think there is one, it depends on the situation and how you go down. when you go down you don't have time to think about how to fall it happens fast and is not usually really as bad as it looks. If you fall in a bunch or sprint just make sure you cover up when on the gound try not to lie there sprawlled out unless you want to get run over!!!

It's something like this.... or so I've heard. 😉

With all the flopping, skidding and rolling around, the injury can be a little unpredictable. Usually road rash - infrequently broken bones. Always wear a helmet.

It's not the speed of the crash that hurts, it's how quickly you stop. I went over the bars at 31 (aero bars + fresh pothole = 🙁) a few years ago and walked away with a few bruises and very minor road rash. But between the flying, rolling, and sliding I coverd a good thirty feet, and was lucky enough to not hit anything. The best way to take a fall like that is to go down on a forearm and roll. Baden Cooke provided a fine demonstration of the technique at last year's Giro:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/giro05/?id=giro054/14

I just crahed saturday night in a rainy criterium @ around 30mph. If nothing was in my way i.e. I was able to slide to a nice comfortable stop on the wet road I would have had some minor road rash... unfortunately there was a metal barricade about 5 feet from where i went down. I hit the barricade shin first at around 25 mph... took seven staples to get the hole closed.

Earlier this season I crashed in a criterium at around 30 mph and was flung into the grass shoulder first... minor shoulder seperation, nothing too bad.

As you can see... there are lots of different things that can happen, unfortunately none of them are very good 🙂

frenchyge said:

It's something like this.... or so I've heard. 😉

With all the flopping, skidding and rolling around, the injury can be a little unpredictable. Usually road rash - infrequently broken bones. Always wear a helmet.

Hummmm. These looked much worse the next day (after they turned purple), but are very similar to Frencies! (I had the ones on the back too. They are still nice and red. My elbow still isn't 100% healed.)

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http://home.comcast.net/~shullln/P1010542.JPG

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As a safety note, make sure you check your bike out before getting back on to ride. You never know what you mess up in your spill (as big George about that one).

L

frenchyge said:

It's something like this.... or so I've heard. 😉

With all the flopping, skidding and rolling around, the injury can be a little unpredictable. Usually road rash - infrequently broken bones. Always wear a helmet.

There for a minute I thought some had taken my picture! I hit a dog doing 35 a week ago. Went over the bars and got almost identical road rash. I did get a few stitches in my elbo though.

Always wear a helmet and wear it correctly(strapped on tight and pulled down over the four head!)

Sunday I went over my bars doing about 20mph on a flat road the guy in front of me slid out for some reason and I hit him ..I landed on my face broke my nose, my glasses cut me to the bone on the bridge of my nose and I suffered pretty extensive cuts and scapes on my face, wrist and elbows. I dont think it is the speed at which you fall it's how you fall that is gonna determine the injuries.

djk202020 said:

Sunday I went over my bars doing about 20mph on a flat road the guy in front of me slid out for some reason and I hit him ..I landed on my face broke my nose, my glasses cut me to the bone on the bridge of my nose and I suffered pretty extensive cuts and scapes on my face, wrist and elbows. I dont think it is the speed at which you fall it's how you fall that is gonna determine the injuries.

Uh oh, you cut your nose...better sue the sunglasses company 🙂

li0scc0 said:

Uh oh, you cut your nose...better sue the sunglasses company 🙂

bwahahaha

ive fallen downhill at 30+ and ended up with minor road rash and almost no damage to my bike, and ive fallen uphill at around a whoppin 8-9 and broke finger, needed stitches in my forearm, 2 spokes, a left sti lever, and whole lot of truing.
on the descent i was alone on the ascent i was in a pack and someone came over into my front wheel. it all depends on how you fall. dont catch yourself with your hands, use a forearm. you will break your wrists if you use your hands to try and catch yourself.

I took a fall at about 35 m/hr and ended up with a spiral fracture to my left wrist. It happened while taking a corner at high speed and hitting a gravel patch that I didn't see coming. Basically ended up coming down on my wrist to the point that the entire bottom of my glove was torn off and only the part around my wrist and thumb was still attached. This and a fair amount of road rash on my left side. It's been six months and my wrist locks up about 10 to 20 times a day when ever I use my hand. I was lifting weights 6 days and week and weighed 196 at 6'2" and now I weight 168, but I'm actually faster on my bike and I'm doing a lot better in the local races. To answer the question there are proper ways to fall, but it can happen so quick like in my situation that you can only hope for the best.

And yes you will fall like the rest of us eventually, if you ride and train hard.